Each day in November—leading up to the winter meetings—Sporting News will analyze the offseason to-do list of a major league team. Today: the Chicago Cubs.

The first season of the Theo Epstein-Jed Hoyer era predictably was filled with growing pains. As the revamped front office works to replenish the farm system and jettison high-priced veterans, the long wait for a World Series title will continue for the fans on the North Side. For the first time since 1966, the Chicago Cubs finished with 100-plus losses

OFFSEASON AGENDA

The Cubs must decide which prospects are ready to join a young major league core that includes first baseman Anthony Rizzo, second baseman Darwin Barney and shortstop Starlin Castro. Young Welington Castillo is atop the depth chart at catcher, while outfielders Brett Jackson and Jorge Soler likely will begin the season in the minors. Chicago, which traded starting backstop Geovany Soto in July, did get some insurance at catcher by signing veteran Dioner Navarro.

Epstein is proud of the young core and believes it will be the foundation of a contender—eventually.

"I also want to make the playoffs and I understand that's a big challenge, so I hope we hit on a few guys this winter and get off to a good start and we have one of those unexpected seasons,” he told the team’s website.

The Cubs had a couple of rotation voids after trading righthander Ryan Dempster and lefthander Paul Maholm last July and losing righthander Chris Volstad on waivers in October. The team added veteran righthander Scott Baker, who missed the entire 2012 season after Tommy John surgery, in free agency earlier this month. And the Cubs just agreed to a one-year deal with free-agent righthander Scott Feldman, who struggled this past season with the Texas Rangers. There also has been talk of a possible reunion with Dempster, though he might be out of the team’s price range.

POSSIBLE DEPARTURES

The big question is which veteran will be the next to go.

Righthander Matt Garza was in high demand last summer until a stress reaction in his pitching elbow shut him just before the July 31 nonwaiver trading deadline. Now healthy, he again is a valuable trade chip with so many teams in need of a front-line starting pitcher. Because the Cubs aren’t yet ready to contend, Garza is worth more as a trade commodity than a veteran presence in the rotation.

Also shopped last summer was left fielder Alfonso Soriano, whose no-trade protection and big contract ($18 million in each of the next two seasons) has made him a tough sell. However, Soriano’s value again is high following a season in which he led the team in homers (32) and RBIs (a career-high 108).

Also available is closer Carlos Marmol, who nearly was sent to the Los Angeles Angels for starter Dan Haren earlier this offseason. However, Chicago ultimately walked away from that deal because of health concerns about Haren.

Already gone is outfielder/first baseman Bryan LaHair, whose big first half (14 homers, 30 RBIs) resulted in his first All-Star berth in 2012. However, his second-half drop-off (two homers, 10 RBIs) and the arrival of Rizzo resulted in a decrease in playing time and a roster spot in Japan. Another non-tender candidate is third baseman Ian Stewart, who was limited to 55 games this past season because of wrist surgery.

EARLY 2013 OUTLOOK

With the Houston Astros now in the AL West, there is nothing to separate the Cubs from last place in the NL Central. Epstein warned that the rebuilding process would take time, and he wasn’t trying to be cautiously optimistic.